British Columbia is a mecca for fly fishing with some of the best fly fishing found anywhere in the world. From alpine streams to coastal rivers to trophy trout lakes, there are year-round BC fly fishing opportunities for all! Narrowing down BC fly fishing options isn’t always easy. It is a big province with a variety of options, seasons and experiences. We want you to have the best possible fly trip to British Columbia, that’s why we have this comprehensive BC fly fishing information page on our website. From fly fishing near Vancouver BC to the wild steelhead rivers of the Skeena region, this covers it all…
FLY FISHING REGIONS
Info on where to go fly fishing in BC.
GET PRIME DATES
Timing your trip for the best fishing.
FIND A GUIDE
We're here to get you fishing with the best.
STEELHEAD FISHING
Find a package that suits you.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO BC
Let us help get you into the best BC fly fishing!
LAKE FISHING
Info on BC lake fishing hotspots.
TRIPS IN SQUAMISH BC
Join us for year-round guided fly fishing for salmon, trout and steelhead. Great trips close to Vancouver!
OCTOBER & NOVEMBER FISHING
Fall salmon fishing is one of BC’s most popular fisheries. Learn more about when and where.
BC’S BEST STEELHEAD RIVERS
Get hooked up with the best BC steelhead fishing. Info on river fishing for steelhead.
WHERE TO GO FLY FISHING IN BC
THE BEST FLY FISHING REGIONS
BC is a big place so we thought we’d break down fly fishing options here to the five main regions. Find where you’d like to go and we’ll let you know the different options for the region…
BC SOUTH COAST
There is a ton of great fly fishing to be had close to Vancouver. BC’s South Coast region offers 365 days of fly fishing opportunities on wild rivers, hidden lakes and mountain streams. You don’t have to travel far to enjoy some epic BC fly fishing for salmon, steelhead and trout. Read more about fly fishing close to Vancouver here…
SKEENA REGION
This is the true mecca of wild steelhead and salmon fishing found in Canada. The Skeena Region is home to the Skeena River, which is the main drainage of northern BC. The Skeena River and its many tributaries are are world famous for their salmon and steelhead fly fishing opportunities. Prime dates are April through mid November. Read more on fly fishing Northern BC’s Skeena Region here…
INTERIOR REGION
This area is known for having the best stillwater (lake) fly fishing in North America. Home to big trout, the Interior Region of BC is a fly fishing paradise for anglers looking for budget friendly trips and some great fishing. Read more about fly fishing BC’s interior lakes here…
SOUTHERN ROCKIES
In the southeast corner of BC you’ll find some pretty special fly fishing in the Fernie area. This region is home to several beautiful fly fishing rivers, with the Rocky Mountains as their backdrop. Read more on fly fishing in the Rocky Mountains of BC here…
VANCOUVER ISLAND
Vancouver Island is best known for its saltwater salmon fishing opportunities but it also offers year-round fly fishing for salmon, trout and steelhead. This is a fun destination any time of year for a fly fishing trip. Read more about Vancouver Island fly fishing trips here…
BC SOUTH COAST
FLY FISHING NEAR VANCOUVER
Some of the best BC fly fishing is on the South Coast Region, the area surrounding Vancouver. The rivers and lakes here offer year-round fishing for salmon, steelhead and trout. We offer guided fly trips from Vancouver, Squamish and Whistler 12 months a year.
In the Winter and Spring months the focus is on fly fishing for bull trout and steelhead close to Vancouver. Bull trout feed on the remnants of the Fall salmon runs and steelhead move into Vancouver area rivers usually starting in December, with prime months being March and April. One of our most popular fishing trips during this time is our Squamish River Steelhead Packages.
During the Summer there is good trout fishing in lakes, many of them are stocked with trout. On odd years (2023, 2025, etc) there is Pink Salmon fishing that can be caught from July to September. One of the best Summer fly fishing options on BC’s South Coast is fly fishing in Whistler, it gives lots of flexibility with both lake and river fishing available.
One of the better options for fly fishing near Vancouver in late May, June and July is the Pitt River. The Pitt River is located about an hour east of Vancouver. It is not accessible by road, you will need to hire a guide with a jet boat to access the Pitt. The Pitt River has excellent bull trout fishing in May and June, and there are some big fish in there! If you need a contact for a Pitt River fly fishing guide send us an email and we’ll connect you with our contacts there.
The Fall months around Vancouver offer anglers some of the best fly fishing of the year as BC’s salmon runs move in from the ocean to their native spawning grounds along coastal rivers. Mid September though late November will offer you the best dates for fly fishing for salmon. This is a great time to visit BC and our fully guided BC Fall Salmon Packages are an affordable fly fishing option for all abilities.
SKEENA RIVER FLY FISHING
BRITISH COLUMBIA STEELHEAD MECCA
There are few river systems in the world as prolific as the Skeena River and her many tributaries. The main stem of the Skeena is about 540 kilometres in length draining an area of about 51,000 sq. kilometres. The Skeena has many famous tributaries, all offering their own unique fly fishing opportunities.
On the Skeena you can go fly fishing for wild salmon and steelhead. There is a Spring run of steelhead in March and April and a run of Chinook (King) salmon through June and July. August and September are great months for both salmon and steelhead. October and November the focus is generally on steelhead as salmon runs have dissipated by that time. Here’s some more info on guided Skeena Lodge Packages.
The tributaries of the Skeena are too many to mention, but some of the more famous ones include the Kispiox, Kalum, Copper, Babine and Bulkley rivers. These are some of the most, if not the most, famous steelhead rivers in the world. Prime time for steelhead on these smaller rivers is late August through to mid November.
There are some other well know fisheries in the region, including the Kitimat River and the Nass River. The Kitimat River offers some very consistent fishing overall and is fairly accessibly and a great option for both conventional gear anglers and fly anglers.
Some things to keep in mind when planning a BC fly fishing trip to the Skeena Region… First, dates for guided trips here book early and most river systems are ‘classified’. More information on BC Classified Rivers System on our Steelhead Info Page. Secondly, timing a trip is key. You want to make sure you get the best possibly fly fishing dates for your trip. Come too early and runs of fish won’t be in yet, time it too late and you’ll be stuck in the cold.
INTERIOR REGION FLY FISHING
BC’S WORLD FAMOUS LAKE FISHING
A great BC fly fishing trip doesn’t have to be complicated. Some of the best lake fishing for trout in BC is within 3-4 hours of Vancouver! The Interior Region of BC is the area around the towns of Merritt and Kamloops and it offers some fantastic fly fishing for big trout.
This is a perfect area for a do-it-yourself BC fly fishing trip. You don’t need fancy gear or a big budget. The area is relatively easy to get to, all lakes are open to the public and there are plenty of homestyle fly fishing lodges to choose from and a few select guide operations in the area. Prime time for a BC lake fly fishing trip is right after the ice melt in the late Spring. As lakes ‘turn over’ trout become active and feed on the healthy insect populations these lakes supply. The heat of the Summer months can slow fishing down, but it picks up again through the Fall months as trout gorge before Winter.
If you’re looking for a BC lake fly fishing guide service your best contact would be the team at the Interior Fly Fishing Company based in Kamloops British Columbia. These guys really know lake fly fishing in BC better than anyone. If you’d like a fly fishing lodge package then the world famous Douglas Lake Ranch near Merritt BC is a fantastic option. They offer a variety of affordable packages on some of the best fly fishing lakes in BC!
ROCKY MOUNTAIN FLY FISHING
FLY FISHING IN FERNIE BC
The southern Rocky Mountains of British Columbia offer anglers some pretty spectacular fly fishing for Westslope Cutthroat Trout and big Bull Trout. Both species are native to the region. The backdrop isn’t bad either, imagine yourself drifting down wild rivers with the epic Rocky Mountains surrounding you.
There are lots of rivers to choose from in the area, the most famous being the Elk River and the Columbia River. Others including the Wigwam, the Crowsnest and the St Mary’s offer equally good trout fly fishing opportunities. The fishing season runs from June to October with July, August and September being prime months for a fishing trip. There are several guide operations in the area but if you want to go with the real pros plan your BC fly trip with guide Paul Samycia and his team at Elk River Guiding Company. They are the local experts and your best contact for a guided fishing trip in Fernie.
One consideration of fly fishing in this area is the travel to get there. It is about a 10 hour drive from Vancouver but only 3 hours from Calgary, Alberta. You can also opt to fly into the town of Cranbrook, near Fernie, there are daily flights from Vancouver.
VANCOUVER ISLAND FLY FISHING
FLY FISHING STEELHEAD & SALMON
Although mostly know for its saltwater salmon fishing there are lots of really cool fly fishing trips to be had on Vancouver Island. Vancouver Island is about 450 kilometres long and around 32,000 square kilometres in area. Travel is easy, there are highway, road systems and ferry service throughout the island. The fly fishing on Vancouver Island is focused mainly on river fishing for salmon and steelhead but there is good trout fishing as well and some lake fishing to be had.
The main focus of fly fishing on Vancouver Island is for winter-run steelhead, this fishery takes place from December to April. River fly fishing for salmon is best from August to mid November with all five species of Pacific Salmon entering Vancouver Island rivers over this time period. Fly fishing for trout fishing can be enjoyed year-round.
Some of the more well known fly fishing rivers on Vancouver Island include the Cowichan, Stamp, Campbell, Salmon and Nimpkish. Fishing here can be a challenging pursuit, especially for Winter Steelhead. If you’re looking for a Vancouver Island freshwater fishing guide you can contact Coastal Wilderness Adventures in Campbell River or Cleanline Sportfishing in Tofino.
TRIP PLANNING TIPS & INFO
GET INTO BC’S BEST FLY FISHING
Now that you have an idea of the different BC fly fishing regions now it’s time to narrow down some dates and plan a trip. When you’re looking at the best fly fishing dates in British Columbia that can be tricky. The windows of opportunity aren’t wide open. For river fishing you’ll want to do a Spring trip or a mid Summer to late Fall trip. Most rivers in BC are too high for fishing from early/mid May to mid/late June. Lake fishing has a wider window of opportunity for good fishing but the best lake fishing is usually the two months after iceoff. Some lakes get really warm in the Summer and fly fishing can be tough.
British Columbia is about 950,000 square kilometres in area. It is a huge province and travelling around it for various fly fishing trips takes some planning. The multiple fishing spots near Vancouver are all easily accessible in an hour or two, easy enough for a day trip from the city. Other areas, like BC’s interior region or Vancouver Island are not accessible for a simple day trip. You will need to account for a 1/2 travel time to get there. The Skeena Region is even further, about a 12 hour drive from Vancouver! Flying up to the Skeena for steelheading fishing is the way to go with multiple flights daily.
We hope this has helped get you started with a BC fly fishing trip. If you have any questions regarding fly fishing in British Columbia please contact us, we’re always happy to chat about fishing in BC!
When is the best time for fly fishing in BC?
This is always a tough question as BC enjoys nearly year round fly fishing for a variety of species. Every destination in BC has different prime times but most fly fishing is done from early March to late November.
DO I NEED A FISHING LICENSE IN BC?
You sure do. Licenses can be bought online. Cool thing about fishing licenses in BC is that 100% of proceeds go to fish habitat and stocking!
WHERE IS BC'S BEST TROUT FISHING?
There is trout fishing in BC rivers but for the best trout fishing in British Columbia you'll want to plan a lake fishing trip to BC's interior in May and June, this is an unreal fishery!
CAN WE KEEP FISH?
It depends on where you are fishing and what you are fishing for. Best to check local regulations before heading out. And remember, BC is single barbless hook in freshwater.
WHEN CAN WE GO FLY FISHING FOR SALMON?
Salmon move from the ocean to coastal rivers starting in August. Prime time for river fly fishing for salmon in BC is usually mid September to mid November.
IS THERE FLY FISHING NEAR VANCOUVER?
You bet! We offer a variety of guided fly fishing trips in Squamish BC, located about an hour north of Vancouver. These are BC's easiest fly fishing option.